Southern California -- this just in

Off-duty deputy shoots would-be robber in downtown L.A.

An off-duty reserve Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy shot and injured a would-be robber during an attempted heist at two downtown jewelry stores Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators remained at the scene, but Los Angeles Police Officer Rosario Herrera said initial information indicated three men entered two stores in the 600 block of South Broadway about 2:30 p.m.

Two of the armed suspects went inside one store, she said, while the third entered the second. At one point, one of the men "took hold" of a security guard.

The off-duty deputy, who was in the store, fired at one of the suspects, Herrera said. The man was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition.

No other injuries were reported.

The other two suspects fled and remain at large, Herrera said. A revolver was recovered at the scene.

Jon Coulthard, a photographer who lives above the jewelry store, said he heard people screaming before "a bunch of gunshots" went off.

"It was quite a few shots," he said. "Maybe 10."

After looking out his window and seeing a man "laying in the street," Coulthard grabbed his camera and went downstairs to the scene. Witnesses told him the two other suspects left in a Cadillac, but the third man — who was shot in the buttocks — didn't make it to the car.